Rene Fasel’s Tenure Ends After 27 Years As IIHF President

The IIHF Congress has been now going on for a few days with loads of events and huge decisions being made. The main task at hand is the new presidential election as Rene Fasel’s tenure is coming to an end after 27 years.

It will certainly be different because Fasel isn’t running for another term.

Rene Fasel via IIHF: ” I’m not tired but I think it’s time for a change. If there’s a problem, I will still be here to help if it needs to be. But it doesn’t have to be. I’ve been President for 27 years and I think it’s the perfect time for somebody else to come with new ideas.”

To recognize his 30 years of service to IIHF and hockey in general he will be inducted into the IIHF Hall Of Fame under the Builder category.

Who are the people that are looking to replace him?

Henrik Bach Nielsen (Denmark):
Previous roles:
IHF Council Member (2012-2021)
Chairman: IIHF Medical Committee (2013-2021)
Member: Facilities & Environment Committee (2010- 2012)
Member: Facilities Committee (2008-2010)

Petr Briza (Czech Republic):
Previous roles:
IIHF Council Member (2012-2021)
Chairman-IIHF Youth & Junior Development Committee (2016-2021)
Member-IIHF Co-ordination Committee (2013-2016)

Sergej Gontcharov (Belarus):
Previous roles:
IIHF Council Member (2016-2021)
Chairman-IIHF Officiating Committee (2016-2021)
Member-IIHF Event Committee (2008-2016)

Franz Reindl (Germany):
Previous roles:
IIHF Council Member (2016-2021)
Chairman Competition & Co-ordination Committee
(2016-2021)
Co-chair: IIHF Competition and Inline Committee (
2013-2016)
Member – IIHF Co-ordination Committee (2013-2016)
Member – IIHF Competition Committee (2008-2012)
Member – IIHF Sport Committee (1998-2008)
IIHF representative at Champions-Hockey League (CHL), elected CHL Vice-President (2018 – 2023)

Luc Tardif (Canada):
Previous roles:
IIHF Council Member (2012-2021)
IIHF Treasurer (2012-2021)
Chairman-IIHF Finance Committee (2016-2021)
Member-IIHF Competition Committee (2008-2012)

A new IIHF Council will also be elected which includes the chair of Senior Vice President.

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The candidates for council are:

Senior Vice-President

Henrik Bach Nielsen (Denmark)
Petr Briza (Czech Republic)
Sergej Gontcharov (Belarus)
Bob Nicholson (Canada)
Franz Reindl (Germany)

Regional Vice-President Americas

Bob Nicholson (Canada)
Dave Ogrean (USA)

Regional Vice-President Asia & Oceania

Gleb Karatayev (Kazakhstan)
Aivaz Omorkanov (Kyrgyzstan)
Thomas Wu (Hong-Kong)

Regional Vice-President Europe & Africa

Henrik Bach Nielsen (Denmark)
Petr Briza (Czech Republic)
Sergej Gontcharov (Belarus)
Franz Reindl (Germany)
Luc Tardif (France)

Council members (female)

Zsuzsanna Kolbenheyer (Hungary)
Marta Zawadzka (Poland)

Council members (male)

Henrik Bach Nielsen (Denmark)
Petr Briza (Czech Republic)
Pavel Bure (Russia)
Joaquin De La Garma (Mexico)
Andrea Gios (Italy)
Sergej Gontcharov (Belarus)
Frank Gonzalez (Spain)
Heikki Hietanen (Finland)
Gleb Karatayev (Kazakhstan)
Viesturs Koziols (Latvia)
Anders Larsson (Sweden)
Jaan Molder (Estonia)
Petras Nauseda (Lithuania)
Dave Ogrean (USA)
Raeto Raffainer (Switzerland)
Franz Reindl (Germany)
Miroslav Satan (Slovakia)
Luc Tardif (France)

Auditors

Andrea Gios (Italy)
Fabio Oetterli (Switzerland)
Hub van Grinsven (Belarus)

The elections will be held on Saturday – 25th of September